When I first started seeing Cake Red Velvet dresses made up, one of the first versions I saw was Susan’s striped version. I knew right then I wanted a striped version too, but I was also still in that mood where I wanted to acquire impossibly bright fabrics.
I absolutely love what I ended up with, not the least because I think it successfully breaks multiple fashion “rules.” I made this one similar to the first, but added a 1″ deep bust adjustment to the bodice which really helped the fit, and lengthened out the skirt about 11 inches.
Rule 1) Plus-size girls should avoid stripes. Really? An entire type of print/weave off-limits just like that? I don’t think so. Not for me.
Rule 2) Plus-size girls should avoid maxi-length dresses. I’m somewhere just over 5′ 3″. I’m never going to be taller, so why should I try to pretend that a dress-length is somehow going to convince the 5′ 9″ person standing next to me that I am the same height as them?
Rule 3 and 4) maxi dresses in fun colors are only for summer. It’s November and the temperatures in the last week have been running anywhere from 29 – 48F. I don’t know why I wouldn’t want a long dress/skirt when it’s cold out. I don’t know why I would want to wear drab colors when I can already see them all around me on the bare trees and in the grey clouds. Just look at the cheerful-colored stripe matching down the side seams!
Rule 5) A Girl with a thick waist should avoid wearing contrast waistbands, wide belts, or anything else that would separate the waistline out from the rest of the outfit. Usually when I’m planning a project, I can visualize it in my head before and as I make it up. With this uneven stripe, I couldn’t get a mental picture, but still love how it worked out. The only thing that really had me worried about the waistband was that the fabric is ITY which is quite stretchy and turning the stripe vertical made the greater stretch run up/down which could have made it look too stretched out. I debated over fusing some soft knit interfacing to it, but in the end went without and it did work. I happened to have this lavender zipper in my stash for an invisible pocket.
Rule 6) Leggings are like tights, not like pants. Actually I truly believe this rule. It needs to stay unbroken. I have new purple Espresso Leggings (Laguna cotton, again) to wear with my striped dress.
What’s your favorite fashion “rule” to break?
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